Transformable toy

ABSTRACT

A transformable toy is reversibly transformed from/to a first form to/from a second form with a user operation. Rotational parts are attached to a base part, rotate on a shaft and are biased in a direction for the second form. An engagement part is attached to a movable part attached to the base part, reciprocating in a direction parallel to the shaft and biased in a separating direction from the base part. When the movable part is operated in an approaching direction to the base part, the engagement part rotates the rotational parts to engage therewith at a position for the first form and stop and a locking mechanism locks the movable part. When at least a portion of the locked movable part is operated, the locking mechanism unlocks the movable part and the engagement part disengages from the rotational parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a transformable toy, or to be more specific, a transformable toy which is reversibly transformed with a simple operation.

2. Description of the Related Art

As described, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 3152591, there has been known a transformable toy in which a member composed of a front member and a rear member is supported by a shaft in such a way as to be freely bent, the undersurfaces of the front member and the rear member are connected with a foldable linkage in such a way that the front member and the rear member freely rotate, the linkage being composed of two connection links connected to each other, and an end part of one of the connection links projects from the rear member upward.

In this transformable toy, when the end part projecting from the rear member upward is rotated forward, the linkage composed of the two connection links bends the member in such away that the front member is over the rear member while folding itself, and when the member is bent, the front member and the rear member constitute, for example, a chest portion and aback portion in the form of a robot, respectively.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, according to this art described in Japanese Patent No. 3152591, in transformation from a first form (basic form) to a second form (robot form) and/or transformation from the second form to the first form, the end part projecting from the rear member upward needs to be operated largely. This is trouble for small children. In addition, because the linkage composed of the two connection links bends the member in such away that the front member is over the rear member while folding itself, it is difficult to transform the transformable toy in a state in which the transformable toy is placed on a table or the like, and hence the transformable toy needs to be held with one hand while that end part of the connection link needs to be operated with the other hand. This is also trouble.

The present invention has been conceived in view of the problems, and objects thereof include providing a transformable toy which is reversibly transformed with a simple operation.

In order to achieve at least one of the objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transformable toy which is reversibly transformed from/to a first form to/from a second form with a user operation, the transformable toy including: a base part; a first rotational part which is attached to the base part and rotates on a first shaft; a second rotational part which is attached to the base part and rotates on the first shaft or a second shaft parallel to the first shaft; a first movable part which is attached to each of the first and second rotational parts and constitutes a portion of an external appearance in the first and second forms; a first bias member which biases the first and second rotational parts in a direction for the second form; a second movable part which is attached to the base part, constitutes a portion of the external appearance in the first and second forms and reciprocates in a direction parallel to the first shaft; an engagement part which is attached to the second movable part, wherein (i) when the second movable part operates in a direction to approach the base part, the engagement part slides on the first and second rotational parts and rotates the first and second rotational parts against a biasing force of the first bias member so as to engage with the first and second rotational parts at a position for the first form to stop, and (ii) when the second movable part operates in a direction to separate from the base part, the engagement part disengages from the first and second rotational parts; a second bias member which biases the second movable part in the direction to separate from the base part; and a locking mechanism which (i) locks the second movable part against a biasing force of the second bias member when the second movable part is operated in the direction to approach the base part and (ii) unlocks the second movable part when at least a portion of the locked second movable part is operated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The present invention is fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings, which are given byway of illustration only, and thus are not intended to limit the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transformable toy in a first form according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the transformable toy in the first form;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the transformable toy in a second form;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the transformable toy in the second form;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the transformable toy in the second form;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing how parts of the transformable toy are assembled;

FIG. 7 shows how parts on the front side of the transformable toy in the first form are assembled;

FIG. 8 shows how parts on the rear side of the transformable toy in the first form are assembled;

FIGS. 9A and 9B show a state in which an engagement part engages with rotational parts and stops;

FIGS. 10A and 10B show a state in which the engagement part disengages from the rotational parts; and

FIGS. 11A and 11B are sectional views for explaining operation of a locking mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, a transformable toy according to an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first form of a transformable toy 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the transformable toy 1 in the first form. Hereinafter, “upward and downward”, “right and left” and “front and rear” are based on the first form (the form of a toy car).

The transformable toy 1 is reversibly transformed from/to the form of a toy car (first form) shown in FIG. 1 to/from the form of a toy robot (second form) shown in FIG. 5.

The transformable toy 1 includes a base part 10 (FIG. 2), a movable part 20, movable parts 30, movable parts 40 and movable parts 50. The movable parts 30, the movable parts 40 and the movable parts 50 are arranged bilateral-symmetrically, and the same reference numerals are given to the right and left parts. One of the right and left movable parts 30, one of the right and left movable parts 40 and one of the right and left movable parts 50 are described, and description of the others is omitted unless otherwise specified.

As shown in the bottom view of FIG. 2, the base part 10 constitutes a portion of a chassis of the toy car. The base part 10 also constitutes a head portion A and a trunk portion which includes a chest portion B and a hip portion C of the toy robot.

As shown in FIG. 1, the movable part 20 constitutes a hood 21, a windshield 22, a roof 23 and door glasses 24 of the toy car. When the transformable toy 1 is transformed into the toy robot (second form), the movable part 20 rises from the base part 10 as shown in FIG. 3 and constitutes a back portion-related part D (FIG. 4). The back portion-related part D is a protector to protect the back side of the head portion A and the trunk portion including the chest portion B and the hip portion C of the toy robot.

As shown in FIG. 1, the movable part 30 constitutes a grille 31 and a fender 32 of the toy car. When the transformable toy 1 is transformed into the toy robot (second form), as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the right and left movable parts 30 operate in directions in which the front end parts thereof separate from each other, and accordingly the right and left movable parts 30 are in forms of standing on the outer sides of shoulder portions of the toy robot. The movable parts 30 constitute a shoulder portion-related part E to protect the head portion A of the toy robot from the sides as a protector.

As shown in FIG. 1, the movable part 40 constitutes a front wheel 41, a door 42 and the like of the toy car. When the transformable toy 1 is transformed into the toy robot (second form), as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the right and left movable parts 40 operate in directions in which the rear parts of the right and left doors 42 separate from each other. Between the right and left doors 42, arm portions F1 (FIG. 2) of the toy robot are disposed in an integrated manner. The movable parts 40 constitute a portion of an arm portion-related part F. The arm portion-related part F includes the arm portions F1, and the front wheels 41 and the doors 42 protect the arm portions F1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the movable part 50 constitutes a rear wheel 51, a fender 52 and a wing 53 of the toy car. When the transformable toy 1 is transformed into the toy robot (second form), as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the right and left movable parts 50 operate in directions in which the rear end parts thereof separate from each other. The movable parts 50 constitute a portion of a leg portion-related part G. The leg portion-related part G includes leg portions G1, and the leg portions G1 are attached to the base part 10 in such a way as to be spread and closed.

Next, how the movable parts 30 and the movable parts 40 are attached to the base part 10 is described.

As shown in FIG. 6, inside the base part 10, two rotational parts 62 which rotate on a shaft 61 are disposed. These two rotational parts 62 are disposed in such a way as to cross each other, whereby center parts thereof are on top of each other. The two rotational parts 62 are supported by the base part 10 through the shaft 61 at the superposing part (the center parts). The right and left rotational parts 62 are properly bent in such a way that their end parts corresponding to each other are equal in level (height). Parts attached to the two rotational parts 62 are bilateral-symmetrically attached thereto, and the same reference numerals are given to the parts attached thereto. Attachment of the parts to one of the right and left rotational parts 62 is described, and description of attachment of the parts to the other is omitted unless otherwise specified.

As shown in FIG. 6, the right and left rotational parts 62 are biased by a spring 62 a in directions X1 indicated by arrows. In the embodiment, the spring 62 a is a coil spring but may be a torsion spring. That is, any spring can be used as the spring 62 a as long as the right and left rotational parts 62 are biased in the directions X1.

As shown in FIG. 7, the front end part of each rotational part 62 is connected to one end part of a lever 64 through a shaft 63. The middle part of the lever 64 is attached to the base part 10 through a shaft 65 in such a way that the lever 64 rotates. The other end part of the lever 64 is attached to a shaft 66 with which the movable part 30 is provided. Although not being particularly limited, the other end part of the lever 64 is fixed to the shaft 66, with which the movable part 30 is provided, and when the lever 64 rotates on the shaft 65, the movable part 30 operates with the lever 64.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the movable part 40 is attached to the shaft 66, with which the movable part 30 is provided, in such a way as to rotate. The movable part 40 is also attached to one end part of a link 68 through a shaft 67 in such a way as to rotate. The other end part of the link 68 is attached to the base part 10 through a shaft 69 in such a way that the link 68 rotates. Consequently, the lever 64, the movable part 40, the link 68 and the base part 10 constitute a four-bar linkage, and the lever 64 constitutes its input link.

When the rotational part(s) 62 in the first form rotates in the direction X1 shown in FIG. 7, the lever 64 rotates on the shaft 65 in the clockwise direction, the movable part 30 rotates on the shaft 65 in the clockwise direction, and the movable part 40 operates in a direction X2 indicated by an arrow in FIG. 7 owing to the four-bar linkage. Thereby, the movable parts 30 and the movable parts 40 of the transformable toy 1 change their forms for the toy robot from those for the toy car.

Next, how the movable parts 50 are attached to the base part 10 is described.

As shown in FIG. 8, one end part of a link 72 is connected to the rear end part of each rotational part 62 through a shaft 71 in such a way that the link 72 rotates. The other end part of the link 72 is connected to a shaft 73 in such a way that the link 72 rotates, the shaft 73 with which the groin part of the leg portion G1 is provided. The leg portion G1 is connected to the base part 10 through a shaft 74 near the shaft 73 in such a way as to rotate.

When the rotational part(s) 62 in the first form rotates in the direction X1 shown in FIG. 7 or 8, the leg portion G1 rotates in a direction X3 indicated by an arrow in FIG. 8.

The leg portion G1 is connected to the movable part 50 through links 75 and 76. The link 75, the movable part 50, the link 76 and the leg portion G1 constitute a four-bar linkage, and the lever 75 constitutes its input link. The marks  in FIG. 8 represent shafts.

One end part of the link 75 is provided with a pinion 81. The pinion 81 meshes with a rack 82 a of a rack part 82. One end part of the rack part 82 is connected to the base part 10 through a shaft 83 in such away that the rack part 82 rotates. The rack part 82 is bent at some point so that the rack part 82 is partly inserted into the leg portion G1 and the rack 82 a of the rack part 82 meshes with the pinion 81 in the leg portion G1.

When the leg portion G1 rotates in the direction X3 shown in FIG. 8, the rack part 82 rotates on the shaft 83 in the counterclockwise direction, and the rack 82 a of the rack part 82 rotates the pinion 81 in the clockwise direction and rotates the link 75 on the shaft 77 in the clockwise direction. Thereby, the movable part 50 moves to the tip side of the leg portion G1, and as shown in FIG. 5, an inclined plane 85 a of the leg portion G1 and an inclined plane 85 b of the movable part 50 contact with each other, the movable part 50 engages with the leg portion G1, and the movable part 50 as an outside-leg-portion part G2 is placed at its normal position in the toy robot. Thereby, the movable parts 50 of the transformable toy 1 change their forms for the toy robot from those for the toy car.

Next, how an engagement part 91 and the movable part 20 are attached to each other is described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the engagement part 91 is attached to the lower side of the movable part 20 through a not-shown attachment part. As shown in FIGS. 9A to 11B, the engagement part 91 is cylindrical, and the diameter of the tip part thereof gradually becomes smaller in the downward direction. At a portion of the outer circumference of the engagement part 91, a slit 91 a extending in the upward and downward direction is formed. In addition, the engagement part 91 is provided with a rod 92. The rod 92 is attached to the engagement part 91 in such a way as to appear from and disappear into the engagement part 91. On the rod 92, a head 92 a having a diameter larger than that of the rod 92 is formed. The head 92 a is disposed in the engagement part 91. Between the head 92 a and the upper face of the engagement part 91 inside the engagement part 91, a spring 93 is placed. The rod 92 is biased by the spring 93 in a direction (downward direction) in which the rod 92 appears from the engagement part 91. The tip of the rod 92 is fixed to the base part 10 by a screw 92 b.

In the case where the movable part 20 descends and the large diameter part of the engagement part 91 is inserted between the right and left rotational parts 62 as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the right and left rotational parts 62 rotate in directions X4 indicated by arrows in FIG. 9B against the biasing force of the spring 62 a. On the other hand, in the case where the movable part 20 rises and the rod 92 is inserted between the right and left rotational parts 62 as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the right and left rotational parts 62 rotate in directions X5 indicated by arrows in FIG. 10B by the biasing force of the spring 62 a.

Next, a locking mechanism 94 of the movable part 20 is described.

The locking mechanism 94 includes a lever 94 a. An operation part 94 b of the lever 94 a constitutes a portion of the windshield 22. The lever 94 a is attached to the movable part 20 in such a way as to rotate on a shaft 94 c. Of the lever 94 a, the side opposite to the side where the operation part 94 b is disposed, with the shaft 94 c in between, hangs down and is provided with a claw part 94 d at the tip part. The lever 94 a is biased by a spring (not shown) in such a way that the claw part 94 d enters the slit 91 a. When the rod 92 disappears into the engagement part 91, the claw part 94 d goes under the head 92 a as shown in FIG. 11A and locks the rod 92 at the risen (high) position. On the other hand, when the operation part 94 b of the lever 94 a is pushed as shown in FIG. 11B in the state shown in FIG. 11A, the locking is released, and the rod 92 appears from the engagement part 91 by the biasing force of the spring 93. When the rod 92 appears from the engagement part 91, the movable part 20 rises by the reaction force. Thereby, the movable part 20 of the transformable toy 1 changes its form for the toy robot from that for the toy car.

According to the transformable toy 1 configured as described above, the following advantageous effects are obtained.

First, when the engagement part 91 operates in one direction, the transformable toy 1 takes the first form, and when the engagement part 91 operates in the other direction, the transformable toy 1 takes the second form by the biasing forces of the springs 62 a and 93, so that the transformable toy 1 can be reversibly transformed with a simple operation.

Second, the movable parts 30, the movable parts 40 and the movable parts 50 operate in a plane which intersects at right angles to the shaft 61, so that the transformable toy 1 can be transformed in a state in which the transformable toy 1 is placed on a table or the like, and therefore the transformable toy 1 can be easily transformed with one hand.

Third, the engagement part 91 is attached to the rod 92 which appears from and disappears into the engagement part 91 by reciprocating in the direction parallel to the shaft 61, and the tip of the rod 92 is fixed to the base part 10, so that the base part 10 and the movable part 20 can be connected to each other with a simple configuration.

Fourth, each of the right and left rotational parts 62 is supported by the shaft 61 at the middle point in the longitudinal direction, the movable part 30 and the movable part 40 are attached to one end part of each of the right and left rotational parts 62, and the movable part 50 is attached to the other end part thereof, so that the movable parts 30, 40 and 50 can be operated in various directions, and therefore the transformable toy 1 is highly interesting.

Fifth, the base part 10 is provided with the head portion A and the trunk portion including the chest portion B and the hip portion C of the toy robot, and the movable parts 40 and the movable parts 50 constitute a portion of the arm portion-related part F and a portion of the leg portion-related part G of the toy robot, respectively, so that the transformable toy 1 can be transformed dynamically.

Sixth, when the rotational parts 62 operate, the four-bar linkages operate, and in the case where the transformable toy 1 is transformed into the second form, the outside-leg-portion parts G2 move to their normal positions in the second form, so that various types of transformation of the transformable toy 1 can be enjoyed.

In the above, an embodiment of the present invention is described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and it is needless to say that the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment, the locking mechanism 94 is configured in such a way that the claw part 94 d locks the rod 92 by hooking the head 92 a formed on the rod 92. However, a push latch using a magnet may be used for the locking mechanism 94, the push latch performing locking when pushed once and performing unlocking when pushed twice.

Further, in the embodiment, the right and left rotational parts 62 rotate on the same shaft 61. However, the rotational parts 62 may be attached to different shafts which are arranged in parallel, respectively.

Further, in the embodiment, the transformable toy 1 is transformed from/to the form of a toy car to/from the form of a toy robot. However, the transformation may be performed from/to the form of another type of toy vehicle to/from the form of a toy animal.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-002927 filed on Jan. 10, 2014, the entire disclosure of which, including the description, claims, drawings and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A transformable toy which is reversibly transformed from/to a first form to/from a second form with a user operation, the transformable toy comprising: a base part; a first rotational part which is attached to the base part and rotates on a first shaft; a second rotational part which is attached to the base part and rotates on the first shaft or a second shaft parallel to the first shaft; a first movable part which is attached to each of the first and second rotational parts and constitutes a portion of an external appearance in the first and second forms; a first bias member which biases the first and second rotational parts in a direction for the second form; a second movable part which is attached to the base part, constitutes a portion of the external appearance in the first and second forms and reciprocates in a direction parallel to the first shaft; an engagement part which is attached to the second movable part, wherein (i) when the second movable part operates in a direction to approach the base part, the engagement part slides on the first and second rotational parts and rotates the first and second rotational parts against a biasing force of the first bias member so as to engage with the first and second rotational parts at a position for the first form and stop, and (ii) when the second movable part operates in a direction to separate from the base part, the engagement part disengages from the first and second rotational parts; a second bias member which biases the second movable part in the direction to separate from the base part; and a locking mechanism which (i) locks the second movable part against a biasing force of the second bias member when the second movable part is operated in the direction to approach the base part and (ii) unlocks the second movable part when at least a portion of the locked second movable part is operated.
 2. The transformable toy according to claim 1, wherein the engagement part is attached to a rod which appears from and disappears into the engagement part by reciprocating in the direction parallel to the first shaft, a tip of the rod is fixed to the base part, and the rod is biased by the second bias member in a direction to appear from the engagement part.
 3. The transformable toy according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second rotational parts is supported by the shaft at a middle point in a longitudinal direction, and the first movable part is attached to each end part in the longitudinal direction of each of the first and second rotational parts.
 4. The transformable toy according to claim 1, wherein the second form is a form of a toy robot, the base part is provided with a head portion and a trunk portion of the toy robot, and the first movable part includes at least an arm portion-related part and a leg portion-related part of the toy robot.
 5. The transformable toy according to claim 4, wherein the leg portion-related part includes: leg portions which are spread when the engagement part disengages from the first and second rotational parts; and an outside-leg-portion part which (i) is attached to each of the leg portions through two links disposed in such a way as to face each other and (ii) constitutes a four-bar linkage together with the leg portion and the two links, wherein when the leg portions are spread, the four-bar linkage operates and the outside-leg-portion part moves to a normal position in the second form. 